Money problems--at MLI ? ! ? ! No way ! ! ! Grovelling for your once more "late" or "undeposited" check due to some "glitch" in the GHQ payroll system? Please, give me a break!

Not everyone can wait it out like you, Mr. Dundat. Avoid the MLI and avoid serious salary problems no matter how quickly they promise to sort things out for you, that's my advice from my own experience and that of colleagues at MLI and branch locations.

Hi Bindair,
You can be ready to compromise as much as you like and to pay out of your own pocket as much as you like, but it could all still blow up in your face.
Pay yourself to bring your family over - you will then most likely have to do a visa run to Qatar or somewhere with only the incoming ticket paid by GHQ - so more expense - also the paperwork for the visas might not be processed in the 60 or whatever days allowed, so then you'll have to do the run to update the visa and then again for residence - or pay fines.
As for the housing - people can sumise about what would happen IF you did x, y and z - but guess the people with the answers are GHQ - yes, it all sounds really complex and half-baked and ill-planned - and it is. Sure there are anecdotes. but the game keeps changing.
The MLI/GHQ system does not seem to be one that you can mould to your specifications - so honestly for the housing at least, come and live where they put you for a year and then move - it'll make the initial transition for your family easier to have a furnished place - then you can get to know the city, get settled at work and so on and then look at leisure for housing.
If there are so many things which don't suit you about the MLI contract AND if, as it seems, you have some money, why bother with the MLi - why not wait it out until you get an offer from a place which more suits your needs.
The way I see it, the more time and energy a place has to spend on the special and specific wants of an individual, the less time it has to deal with the majority and the individual gets labelled as 'difficult' - and it will all be a very frustrating experience for you.
Yes, people are still losing the 10% and are still owed the 10% - unless that changes with this upcoming pay check.

Hi Bindair, Dundat, Gottshit, Replayadnauseam, and friends,
I am seriously starting to find these messages a total wind-up.
10% doesn't affect MLI newcomers, but answers the Q as to whether pay is on time, regular and without problems - so, yes, it seems there are still pay problems at MLI - read previous posts and previous threads - GF - explain this to BD, if you have the patience.
BD - reread the messages - read all previous MLI threads - ask your Qs to GHQ for an informed response. The housing system is new - the policy isn't concrete.
When/If you go to MLI (like with other places), things could be better, worse or just different. We don't have crystal balls and what is reality today, based on today's circs., could br fiction tomorrow.
If you have money, as it seems, then surely pay irregularities and delays aren't a problem, but money won't slove all the issues.
Have you decided about the job yet? Maybe time to take a time out and dither in private. Your questions get more specific and the well-intentioned answers get woollier in an attempt to help you - yet nobody actually knows what will happen in YOUR situation - 'cos despite an attempt at uniformity, there isn't any uniformity or logic. If you can accept that - go to MLI - if not, not. No matter how many questions you ask or how many answers you get, it could all change.
So - do you like the sound of the job? Do you want to be in the UAE? Do you have feasible alternatives? Reflect.
Can you find a way to cope with what you have been told officially? If so, come - if not, not. Nobody is special - if they are hiring lots of teachers, why would they go out on a limb for one - and if it's done for one, then why not for all new teachers - and all old teachers...
You've got the info officially - and lots of unofficial stuff on this list - now it's time to make up your mind.
Summary:
Family arrival is delayed - taking action yourself may complicate matters
Initial pay is delayed - loans available
Payments - think they work out in the end
Housing - OK and nicely furnished from what I've seen - housing allowance issues in process of being clarified - but nicely furnished housing is given to newcomers, so there is one year leeway to find housing, etc
Admin - in MLI - nice and friendly, but subject to GHQ - a black hole
Pre-empting other stuff - the baggage allowance is only for excess baggage, school fees are paid late, no car loans are available from employer, no real help re UAE paperwork, getting official letters can be delayed, no salaries in advance paid prior to holidays
Students - hear they are OK, but be nice to high-ranking officers
Medical - a long story
Holidays - 45 days and national hols and odd days at discretion of Commander
Curriculum - due to change
Administrators - nice chaps, but new in post -
SHOOT ME if I reply to another message from BD.

WOW! Think I'm about to agree with MLI VET - hey MLI Vet, could you possibly let BD know the tel # of the nearest dry cleaner to MLI and a good Chinese take-out - don't forget to write out the menu in full for BD to be sure he can get his favourites locally (mention the MSG factor) - and let him know where to find organic blue boot polish he needs - and while we're on the subject - let's revisit the dress code so that BD is sure to arrive with exactly the right recommended type of blazer in the right shade of blue with the requisite number of brass biuttons on it - the handbook says 6 (that's 3x2 double-breasted), 1 cm in diameter, but perhaps BD can get special dispensation to wear his own which has 4 @ 1.5 cm diameter, or pay himself to get one made to his own specs.

Thanks to MLIVET, Tefllifer etc... for their candid responses. I have said it before and will say it again..."working for the military can be frustrating at the best of times." The problems seem to stem from the fact that they are never-ending. If it is not one thing it will be another. I do not wish to elaborate on the many shortcomings and issues for they are certainly different for everyone. You should be aware of this, however, and realize that you will likely be due some serious headaches...the kind that aspirin won't cure!
The most recent batch of suckers didn't read the warning signs or simply chose to ignore them. You should seem then now . Do not say you haven't been warned.

Thank you for your summary of MLI conditions and problems. I almost hate to do this to you, but I'm going to ask you to explain this:

tefllifer wrote:

the baggage allowance is only for excess baggage

I don't get your point -- a baggage allowance is only NEEDED for excess baggage, no? You get your normal allowance, which varies depending on where your journey originates, and then the MLI gives you a voucher for 150 kg of excess. Am I missing something?

As for my decision-making process, I am doing pretty much as you suggested: Thinking, and waiting to see what will turn up post-TESOL. I am trying to find out all I can about the various options that have been/may yet be presented to me so that I can prepare my own little short list. The MLI is not #1 on my list, I can tell you that, but neither is it at the bottom.

WOW! Think I'm about to agree with MLI VET - hey MLI Vet, could you possibly let BD know the tel # of the nearest dry cleaner to MLI and a good Chinese take-out -

Actually, I prefer shwarma and I do my own laundry. Don't know about Chinese places except that they cost more. Shwarma all the way baby--that's the way to go ! ! ! That's all I can afford till I get these salary problems sorted out.

GHQ ! ! ! Pay me my shwarma money, posthaste, immediately, or even quicker than that if you please! I'm warning you GHQ. This is your next to last chance to get this salary stuff right. No more Mr. Nice Guy ESL Teacher ! ! ! Pay up, or else--Got it?

Cannot be revealed for reasons of confidentiality. I cannot tell you my/our military ID(s) either, or location, or DOBs, or political affiliation (s), or what brother (s), sister (s), or parent (s) do for profession, or if ever employed by other armed force (s), or if attempts have been made to recruit by foreign entities, or if agents have asked to purchase special equipment to monitor expats (especially Westerners), or about travel (s) to other countries, etc.